Thursday, February 19, 2009


WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE




No, this is not a "photo-shopped" picture designed to shamelessly plug my book. It actually is me with the Juan Williams of FOX News and NPR. Mr. Williams was lecturing at Shippensburg State College, which is mear minutes from the Roadhouse homestead. As a long time fan of Williams, I couldn't justify missing an opportunity to meet him. As a conservative, I often disagree with Juan's assessment of issues facing our nation, but what sets Williams apart from the liberal herd is not his opinions, it's his personality.
Since I first took the red pill and was drawn into the "Matrix" that is the world of politics, I've seen many political pundits hock their wares across my television screen. Among the liberal media are platoons of snarky, elitist "intellectuals" who never miss a chance to bash conservatives with little more than school yard shin-kickery. Through it all, one guy has stood out to a point where I frequently ask my wife, "Why can't the rest of those jerks be more like him?" That guy is Juan Williams.
The topic of his speech was "Eyes on the Prize: The Truths of American Race Relations". Admittedly, I was expecting Mr. Williams to be a bit more partisan, given the college setting and no cameras rolling. I actually told my traveling companion (AKA, my father-in-law) that we would probably be doing a lot of eye rolling during his lecture. I was wrong.
Like true statesmen of a time pre-dating focus groups and Neilson ratings, Williams spoke of racism in terms that were both fair and accurate. He spoke of personal responsibility or lack there of in the black community. He spoke of Dr. King's message and how he might relate to society today if he were still alive to witness things like gangsta' rap or modern day poverty. He reminded us that even though there is more work to be done, people in general have come much further in their attitudes towards racism than they are usually given credit for. He advocated more communication between ethnicities, and how important it is to keep the conversation going.
Amazingly, he did this without blaming George Bush for all the ills facing the black community, and without throwing verbal pitchforks at those of us on the "right". Unlike just about every liberal talking head I have ever heard, Williams managed to speak for an hour, and take questions from a predominantly "left" audience without making me want to throw produce at him. In fact, I really can't think of one thing he said that I disagreed with. Spooky huh?
After his speech, he did a book signing. He was every bit the respectable American in person that he is on the TV. I told him that I don't always agree with him, but I consider him to be a true statesman. I gave him a copy of my book and he was even gracious enough to let me get a picture of him holding it...his idea.
Juan Williams...a class act, and proof that being a liberal doesn't mean you have to be a nut-job.

8 comments:

ZACK said...

Well, I don't know Juan Williams from Adam..but he's not a valid person to receive a race relations lecture from.

It's amazing how you see "liberals" as elitists when Republicans are known to have MORE MONEY and INFLUENCE.

I don't blame Bush for the problems in the black community. I blame EVERYBODY for not seeing our nation as becoming one community. Unfortunately, even I can't see that vision because we always take ONE STEP FORWARD, two steps backward when it comes to race relations.

I am limited in my potential, not because of those who oppress me, but those men like Juan Williams who suppress me by saying that I don't exist.

That, my friend, is worse than a cartoon parody in the NY Post. And believe you me, I didn't think it could get lower than that.

Roadhouse said...

Zack,
"I don't know Juan Williams from Adam..but he's not a valid person to receive a race relations lecture from."

The first and second halves of this statement are conflicted. If you "don't know Juan from Adam", how can you assess his lecture or it's validity? If I had known you were in the audience, I would have introduced myself in person.

"It's amazing how you see "liberals" as elitists when Republicans are known to have MORE MONEY and INFLUENCE".

Elitism comes from an over-inflated opinion of one's self, not one's money and/or influence.
You can be rich and powerful, while being humble and modest.
And actually, Democrats in the media and government have more wealth per capita than Republicans by far. Republicans holding the wealth is a stereotype used by Dems and the media to create class envy.
As for "money and influence", what party controls congress and the White house? Further more, I offer the 2008 and 2006 election results, Hollywood, Oprah Winfrey, George Soros, the Clintons, the Kennedys, the Rockafellers and pretty much every educational institution in America as evidence to the contrary to your assertion.

"I don't blame Bush for the problems in the black community. I blame EVERYBODY for not seeing our nation as becoming one community. Unfortunately, even I can't see that vision because we always take ONE STEP FORWARD, two steps backward when it comes to race relations."

Who's "we"? Obama? Rice? Powell? Winfrey? Holder?

"I am limited in my potential, not because of those who oppress me, but those men like Juan Williams who suppress me by saying that I don't exist."

I must have missed that part of his lecture. You would think I might remember a statement like that.

"That, my friend, is worse than a cartoon parody in the NY Post. And believe you me, I didn't think it could get lower than that."

I STILL believe that a monkey could have done a better job at creating a stimulus bill than the one Congress dreamed up. Monkeys throw their crap on the wall, at least THAT creates a job for the janitorial staff...one more job than this bill will create.

Seane-Anna said...

Great post, Roadie! I like Juan Williams, too. He's always been reasonable whenever I've seen him on tv. Glad he wanted to pose with you and your book! And as for Zack, I was going to put him in his place but you did such a great job that nothing else needs to be said. Cheers!

JMK said...

"It's amazing how you see "liberals" as elitists when Republicans are known to have MORE MONEY and INFLUENCE." (Zack)
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Uhhhh Zack? Ever hear of The Kennedy's, Jay Rockefeller (D-WVA), George Soros (Billioniare)....all far-Left llons.

JMK said...

"I am limited in my potential, not because of those who oppress me, but those men like Juan Williams who suppress me by saying that I don't exist." (Zack)
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Again, when urban Americans claim to be "oppressed", "dispossessed", and "repressed" amidst the most efficient anti-poverty delivery system in the country, it demonstrates a profound ignorance of this country and the way things work in the world.

The REAL poor, the POOREST poor are Americas's rural poor, in places like Appalachia where there are far fewer opportunities for education and jobs and a far less efficient delivery system for anti-poverty programs.

Moreover, the poor ALL OVER suffer first and foremost from a poverty of the mind and spirit.

America does NOT have any lack of jobs, even now! It has "structural unemployment", too few Americans trained to do the jobs needed to get done.

If Billy grew up in New York, loves New York and has family in New York, but looses his job and can't find work in New York...it's up to Billy to fix that!

Billy's got to shag his ass out to Nevada or the Dakotas and get with all those mining and energy jobs out there going begging.

What Billy can't do, is to stay in New York and say dumb shit like, "My family and friends are here, I ain't leaving to go freeze my ass off in some wilderness to make my scratch, the government's got to do bettter than that."

No it doesn't Billy.

In that case, Billy isn't repressed or oppressed, cause the ONLY one screwing Billy over is himself!

ZACK said...

Put me in my place? For having my own opinion? Allow me to put you in your place: First, you don't know who I am. So, you are actually contradicting Roadhouse's statement about prejudging people. But I forgot, that's what WHITE BIGOTS DO.

Roadhouse and JMK, see ya later. You two will never change. Tell everybody at the Klan rally I said hi.

Roadhouse said...

Zack,
Won't your face be red when you realize that Sean-Anna is a black woman.

Klan rally? The klan is made up of people who are obsessed with skin color. Sound familiar?

You know, it IS possible that someone might disagree with you without it having anything to do with the color of your skin. Black people can be wrong too.

Seane-Anna said...

Yeah, Zack. I am BLACK!!!!! Why do I have a White avatar then? Because the little girl is from the movie "Kill Bill, vol. 2" and just happen to think she's totally adorable plus, the movie ROCKS!!!!

Zack,I disagree with your opinion because it's dumb. And the right to have an opinion does NOT mean that no one can rebut it. This is America and freedom of both thought and speech works BOTH ways...at least for now.